Our Activities
Bahá'í Holy Days
As in all the major religions, the Bahá'í Faith has a number of Holy Days on which work is suspended and public commemorations or festivities are often organized. The nine Bahá'í Holy Days, often associated with events in the lives of the Faith's founders, are opportunities to meet the Bahá'ís in the canton and surrounding areas and to enjoy fellowship together. The Holy Days are:
- 1st day of Ridván: 21 April
- 9th day of Ridván: 29 April
- 12th day of Ridván: 2 May
- The Declaration of the Báb: 23 May
- The Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh: 29 May
- The Martyrdom of the Báb: 9 July
- The Birth of the Báb: 20 October
- The Birth of Bahá'u'lláh: 12 November
- Feast of Naw-Ruz: 21 March
Children's classes
In a world where too many young people have been left to themselves and acquired no moral or ethical foundation for their lives, Bahá'í communities organize children's classes where children from families of all beliefs, or no belief, can come together for basic moral and spiritual education. Since these classes generally follow an organized curriculum at each age level, it is best to enroll your children at the beginning of the school year, or at another moment suggested by the coordinator or teacher, to ensure full integration in the classes. If you are interested, call the coordinator for the canton of Geneva-
Devotional Meetings
Everyone needs some tranquility, reflection, meditation or prayer to balance their lives. Bahá'ís believe that the Sacred Writings of the great religious traditions can help to stimulate and guide the process of turning both inward and outward in prayer and meditation. Bahá'ís and Bahá'í communities often organize devotional meetings where people can come together and share in this process regardless of their religious or spiritual tradition. Readings may be provided, or people can bring or choose their own.
Firesides
The term fireside or coin de feu is used for informal information meetings on the Bahá'í Faith, often held in peoples' homes. There may be a short talk on some aspect of the Bahá'í Faith and an opportunity to ask questions or have general discussion. If you want to learn more about the Bahá'í teachings, why not attend a fireside near you. They are listed in the calendar.
Study Circles
Study circles are informal groups, generally of 6-10 people, that organise themselves at times they find convenient with the help of a tutor. They study together the application of spiritual principles, have social activities, and organise service projects. A sequence of workbooks prepared by the Ruhi Institute provide structure to the studies in the circle. It generally takes several meetings to complete a book, although some can be done in one intensive weekend if a group so desires. The book topics are:
- Book 1: Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
- Book 2: Arising to Serve
- Book 3: Teaching Children's Classes, Grade 1
- Book 3b: Teaching Children's Classes, Grades 2 and 3
- Book 4: The Twin Manifestations
- Book 6: Teaching the Cause
- Book 7: Walking together on a path of service
Anyone is welcome to form part of a new study circle, or to join a study circle at their level when it is starting a new book. In Geneva, there are presently study circles in English and French.
